
Lai, Ybarra Named Women's Golf Captains
2/5/2020 9:54:00 AM | Women's Golf
HAMDEN, Conn. – Quinnipiac women's golf head coach John O'Connor has named juniors Queenie Lai and Elena Ybarra as the program's captains as the Bobcats move into the spring portion of the 2019-20 season, as announced on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
"Queenie and Elena have become leaders for our team over the last three years," said O'Connor. "They are looked up to and consistently perform as exceptional role models. Both young ladies have proven to be excellent golfers, outstanding students and now leaders. They will be leading the smartest and most gifted student-athletes that I've had the privilege of coaching.
Lai was named the September Golfer of the Month by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference earlier this season. Lai earned two top-15 finishes in the month of September, placing T12 at the Boston College Intercollegiate and T14 at the Dartmouth Invitational. The junior shot final rounds of 71 and 72 at the two tournaments, leading her Quinnipiac team to two of the five lowest scores in program history and the lowest 54-hole score in program history. She followed that by finishing second (losing in playoff) at the Lehigh Invitational, which was the final event of the fall season.
"I'm so grateful and honored to have this opportunity to lead such an inspiring group of women," said Lai. "I look forward to starting the season and to helping this team become stronger!"

Ybarra finished in a tie for 25th place overall at Lehigh, ending her Fall season with her best performance of 2020. The junior posted two 78s in five total rounds this Fall, including one at the prestigious Yale Fall Women's Intercollegiate.
"I'm very excited and committed to lead this team to great success and make this year a lifelong experience," said Ybarra. "Queenie and I are lucky and grateful for what we've learned from our past captains Luciana and Julia. They've created a sense of belonging to this family that we now have, and we will continue to transmit it to the future generations."

"Queenie's home is 8,000 miles from Hamden and Elena's is 3,500 miles from campus," continued O'Connor. "Their backgrounds are very diverse and yet they've become best of friends and now they will help lead our team through the most challenging season that we've ever scheduled. I look forward to working with these two outstanding representatives of what Quinnipiac athletes are."
Quinnipiac women's golf is back in action on Monday, Feb. 10, as the team travels to Boca Raton, Fla. for the Florida Atlantic Invitational. The Bobcats compete in the 2020 MAAC Championships from from April 24-26 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
For more updates regarding the program, follow @Quinnipiac_Golf on Twitter and @QU_Golf on Instagram or visit www.gobobcats.com.
"Queenie and Elena have become leaders for our team over the last three years," said O'Connor. "They are looked up to and consistently perform as exceptional role models. Both young ladies have proven to be excellent golfers, outstanding students and now leaders. They will be leading the smartest and most gifted student-athletes that I've had the privilege of coaching.
Lai was named the September Golfer of the Month by the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference earlier this season. Lai earned two top-15 finishes in the month of September, placing T12 at the Boston College Intercollegiate and T14 at the Dartmouth Invitational. The junior shot final rounds of 71 and 72 at the two tournaments, leading her Quinnipiac team to two of the five lowest scores in program history and the lowest 54-hole score in program history. She followed that by finishing second (losing in playoff) at the Lehigh Invitational, which was the final event of the fall season.
"I'm so grateful and honored to have this opportunity to lead such an inspiring group of women," said Lai. "I look forward to starting the season and to helping this team become stronger!"

Ybarra finished in a tie for 25th place overall at Lehigh, ending her Fall season with her best performance of 2020. The junior posted two 78s in five total rounds this Fall, including one at the prestigious Yale Fall Women's Intercollegiate.
"I'm very excited and committed to lead this team to great success and make this year a lifelong experience," said Ybarra. "Queenie and I are lucky and grateful for what we've learned from our past captains Luciana and Julia. They've created a sense of belonging to this family that we now have, and we will continue to transmit it to the future generations."

"Queenie's home is 8,000 miles from Hamden and Elena's is 3,500 miles from campus," continued O'Connor. "Their backgrounds are very diverse and yet they've become best of friends and now they will help lead our team through the most challenging season that we've ever scheduled. I look forward to working with these two outstanding representatives of what Quinnipiac athletes are."
Quinnipiac women's golf is back in action on Monday, Feb. 10, as the team travels to Boca Raton, Fla. for the Florida Atlantic Invitational. The Bobcats compete in the 2020 MAAC Championships from from April 24-26 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
For more updates regarding the program, follow @Quinnipiac_Golf on Twitter and @QU_Golf on Instagram or visit www.gobobcats.com.
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